Buddy Holly, a Petite Basset Griffon Vendeen, was awarded the prestigious Best in Show award at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday night, beating six other canine finalists and their handlers.
The PBGV, as they’re abbreviated, is the 154th most common purebred in the country, according to recent American Kennel Club rankings.
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“I never thought a PBGV would do this,” said handler and co-owner Janice Hayes. “Friend Holly is the epitome of a show dog.”
Buddy Holly – so named because “he’s a dude,” explains breeder Gavin Robertson – has also lived and competed in his native UK and Ireland and Australia.
If Buddy Holly was feeling the pressure, he didn’t let it show. Instead, he seemed more concerned about rejecting the idea of playing with his people and sleeping in his crate on Tuesday afternoon.
About 2500 dogs of 210 breeds competed for the trophy. Hundreds more competed in agility, obedience and other events.
“He just screams PBGV,” Hayes said. “They are very independent but very charming and silly. Their goal is to make you laugh every day.”
Originally from France, the small hound was traditionally a rabbit hunter.
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Among the other finalists was Rumi the Pekingese, who was aiming to bring home the third trophy in 11 years for his small-but-regal breed. French Bulldog Winston was gunning for the title after coming oh-so-close last year.
An Australian shepherd named Ribbon, an English setter named Cider, a giant schnauzer named Monty and an American Staffordshire terrier named Trouble were all in the pack of competitors that came up short.
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Ribbon is “like the fun girl of the party,” says handler Jessica Plourde. Rummie is “true to Pekingese type, lots of carriage, presence – it’s all in one,” says owner and breeder David Fitzpatrick, who guided Pekes Malachi and Wasabi to Westminster wins in 2012 and 2021 respectively.
Winston came Second at Westminster last year and won last fall’s National Dog Show hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. Now he is representing Most common dog breeds In the US, according to rankings published in March.
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He “just steals your heart,” handler and co-owner Perry Payson said after Winston’s Spirit semifinal, which included an impromptu jump into a decorative box in the middle of the ring.
Each Westminster finalist bested first the other dogs of his breed and then his “group” such as toy dogs or hunting dogs. Among the judges for Tuesday night’s semifinal group was newly qualified Braco Italiano, a dog co-owned by country music star Tim McGraw.
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In addition to the chosen finalists, there were other fan favorites as well.
There was the bloodhound that bowed deeply before a judge, the golden retriever cheered on by the breed’s many fans, and the spunky German shorthair pointer that took a few jumps before its lap around the ring. Spectators applauded 10-year-old handler Audra Mays and her Shiba Inu and breeder/owner/handler Alexandria Mitchell and her Ibizan Hound. They made the judge’s first cut, an achievement in a show where many exhibitors handle other people’s dogs as a profession.
The Westminster Show was held this year at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
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